The differences in water levels around the state illustrate how variable water storage can be, depending on the region and how much precipitation has been received, the report said.

Statewide drought is always a possibility. Droughts in 1977, 1988 and 2002 were considered the worst of any droughts since the "dust bowl days" of the 1930s, the report said. Droughts in Utah seem to appear about once every decade, followed by a number of wet years.

From 2002 to 2004, parts of Utah experienced what the report described as "exceptional" drought, which is defined by widespread crop or pasture losses; exceptional fire risk; and water emergencies due to shortages in reservoirs, streams and wells.

The report may be found at www.utahfoundation.org.

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E-mail: sspeckman@desnews.com